The rainy season was coming. A man wanted to build a house to protect him from the rain. He needed help to build his house. He went around to the various animals and asked for help.
First, the man asked the cow to help him.
The cow said, "Oh, I am far too busy for that. I have to brush flies off with my tail, make milk, drink water, chew my cud, and moo. I simply can't help. I am far too busy with important cow business to help build a house."
"Hmm," said the man.
Second, the man asked the wart hog to help him.
The wart hog said, "Oh, I am far too busy for that. I have to grunt, roll around in the mud, graze, and run with my tail held high. I am far too busy with important wart hog business to help build a house."
"Hmm," said the man.
Third, the man asked the dog to help him.
The dog said, "Oh, I am far too busy for that. I have to wag my tail, run around, shake off water, bark, hunt, sleep, scratch fleas, and put my paws up on people. I simply can't help. I am far too busy with important dog business to help build a house."
"Hmm," said the man.
Fourth, the man asked the cat to help him build his house.
The cat said, "Oh, I am far too busy for that. I have to get a lot of sleep, smell every new smell, lick myself from top to toe, lap up water, catch mice, purr, and rub against people's legs. I am far too busy with important cat business to help build a house." The cat thought about it a little bit.
"Still," she said. "I can find time to do those things later. I will help you build your house."
The cat helped the man, and soon the house was built.
When they were all done, and the house was built, the man was very pleased.
He invited the cat inside.
"Come," he said. "There is a cozy spot here by the fire. It is always warm and snug here, in the chimney corner. This can be your special place to sleep."
The cat happily rubbed against the man's legs. She lay down in the chimney corner by the fire, licked herself all over, purred, and went into a deep, contented sleep.
When the rains came, the other animals came to the door and begged to be let inside. The man said, "I don't think so. You wouldn't help build the house. Now you have to sleep outside."
QUESTIONS
1. How is this story like the story of the Little Red Hen?
2. Did the cat get a nice reward for her hard work?
3. Do you think the man should have let the other animals in too? Why or why not?
4. Do you think if you work hard at something you should get some part of it to share, or some kind of reward?
5. Have you ever worked hard and gotten a reward? (A good grade is a reward for studying hard!)
EXERCISE
This week, keep a little notebook or notes to yourself about the hard work you do. Next to the hard work, write down the reward you received. For example:
Hard Work:Did the dishes
Reward: Mother thanked me
Hard Work: Studied hard Reward: Got an A
Hard Work: Helped Daddy clean the yard Reward: Ice cream cone
The rainy season was coming. A man wanted to build a house to protect him from the rain. He needed help to build his house. He went around to the various animals and asked for help.
First, the man asked the cow to help him.
The cow said, "Oh, I am far too busy for that. I have to brush flies off with my tail, make milk, drink water, chew my cud, and moo. I simply can't help. I am far too busy with important cow business to help build a house."
"Hmm," said the man.
Second, the man asked the wart hog to help him.
The wart hog said, "Oh, I am far too busy for that. I have to grunt, roll around in the mud, graze, and run with my tail held high. I am far too busy with important wart hog business to help build a house."
"Hmm," said the man.
Third, the man asked the dog to help him.
The dog said, "Oh, I am far too busy for that. I have to wag my tail, run around, shake off water, bark, hunt, sleep, scratch fleas, and put my paws up on people. I simply can't help. I am far too busy with important dog business to help build a house."
"Hmm," said the man.
Fourth, the man asked the cat to help him build his house.
The cat said, "Oh, I am far too busy for that. I have to get a lot of sleep, smell every new smell, lick myself from top to toe, lap up water, catch mice, purr, and rub against people's legs. I am far too busy with important cat business to help build a house."
The cat thought about it a little bit.
"Still," she said. "I can find time to do those things later. I will help you build your house."
The cat helped the man, and soon the house was built.
When they were all done, and the house was built, the man was very pleased.
He invited the cat inside.
"Come," he said. "There is a cozy spot here by the fire. It is always warm and snug here, in the chimney corner. This can be your special place to sleep."
The cat happily rubbed against the man's legs. She lay down in the chimney corner by the fire, licked herself all over, purred, and went into a deep, contented sleep.
When the rains came, the other animals came to the door and begged to be let inside. The man said, "I don't think so. You wouldn't help build the house. Now you have to sleep outside."
QUESTIONS
1. How is this story like the story of the Little Red Hen?
2. Did the cat get a nice reward for her hard work?
3. Do you think the man should have let the other animals in too? Why or
why not?
4. Do you think if you work hard at something you should get some part of
it to share, or some kind of reward?
5. Have you ever worked hard and gotten a reward? (A good grade is a reward for studying hard!)
EXERCISE
This week, keep a little notebook or notes to yourself about the hard work you do. Next to the hard work, write down the reward you received. For example:
Hard Work:Did the dishes
Reward: Mother thanked me
Hard Work: Studied hard
Reward: Got an A
Hard Work: Helped Daddy clean the yard
Reward: Ice cream cone